updated 07:35 am EDT, Tue May 3, 2011

NHK successfully test global 8k TV broadcast

Japanese broadcaster NHK has collaborated with NTT Electronics to successfully conduct an international test broadcast of Super Hi-Vision 8k resolution TV. As the technology uses a resolution four times higher than 1080p, it can be difficult to transmit the bandwidth without signal degradation. Along with the high-resolution imagery, the accompanying soundtrack can include up to 22.2 channels. NHK was able to successfully send the transmission from all the way around the globe (80,000km) with just a 0.3 second lag.

The first successful test broadcast of the technology occurred last September when a Charlatans concert was beamed from London to Japan. Feeds require a massive bandwidth of 24Gbps, but this was easily achieved by the UK's Janet network, which can cope with a bandwidth up to 40Gbps and successfully transmitted the images to audiences in Japan.

The technology is not expected to mature until 2020, when NHK plans to have it ready to start broadcasting international sporting events held in Japan on a regular basis. [viaAkihabara News]